Tubular connecting piece for helically grooved tubes

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a tubular connecting piece for grooved tubes whereby one or more ends of the piece are at least partially closed by two end planes making an angle with respect to one another. Each end plane covers at least a part of the half section of one end of the connecting piece. The end edges of the end planes are connected by planes extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the part of the connecting piece comprising said end planes.

nited States Patent Wan Zon [54] TUBULAR CONNECTING PIECE FOR HELICALLYGROOVED TUBES [72] Inventor: Cornelis Van Zon, Zwolle, Netherlands [73]Assignee: llndustriele Onderneming Wavin N.V.,

Zwolle, Netherlands [22] Filed: Nov. 4, 1969 [2]] Appl. No.: 873,816

[30] Forelgn Appllcatlon Prlorlty Data Nov. 8, 1968 Netherlands..6815986 [52] US. Cl. ..285/176, 285/390 [51] Int. Cl ..Fl6l 55/00 [58]Field of Search ..285/355, 390, 156, 423, 175, 285/176, 177,238,328;287/l05, 117,125,;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,121,937 6/1938 Tichota etal. ..85/36 ux 2,326,261 8/1943 Shippee et al ....85/36 UX 2,396,8353/1946 Eggert ..85/36 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 521,613 3/1955Italy ..285/423 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Primary Examiner-David J.Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Wayne L. Shedd Attorney-Woodhams,Blanchard & Flynn [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a tubularconnecting piece for grooved tubes whereby one or more ends of the pieceare at least partially closed by two end planes making an angle withrespect to one another. Each end plane covers at least a part of thehalf section of one end of the connecting piece. The end edges of theend planes are connected by planes extending parallel to thelongitudinal direction of the part of the conncting piece comprisingsaid end planes.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDMAR28 1972 INVENTOR CUP/V! 1/6 141/?Z0/V BY M 5M 9% ATTORNEY The invention relates to a connecting piece fortransversely more particularly helically grooved tubes, especiallyplastic tubes with helical grooves, in particular plastic drains of thistype.

For connecting these known transversely helically grooved tubesconnecting pieces are used which are likewise provided with transversehelical grooves. This involves that a large number of connecting pieceswith different diameters are kept in store in dependence on the range ofdiameters of the transversely grooved tubes.

When these tubular connecting pieces are used for connecting the mainpipe line with branch pipe lines of different diameters as often occursin draining or irrigation pipe systems, difficulties are oftenencountered.

Moreover trouble is often encountered when such transversely groovedtubes, however provided with a smooth inner wall, should beinterconnected.

It is an object of the invention to obviate these difficulties byproviding a tubular connecting piece whereby this trouble is overcome.

This object is attained according to the invention in the way that atleast one of the ends of the tubular connecting piece is at leastpartially closed by at least one end wall position which makes an anglewith respect to the axis of thetube extending in this end.

Such a tubular connecting piece is very suitable for connecting thisconnecting piece with a helically grooved tube by cutting out anopening, adapted to the diameter of the tube to be connected, in thewallportion, since the edge of the wall portion surrounding the openingacts already as screw thread when the tube to be connected is screwedin.

Preferably at least one of the ends of the tubular connecting piece isat least partially closed by an end wall portion consisting of endplanes making an angle with respect to one another and each covering atleast a part of half of the section of the end, the faces of closurebeing connected with planes extending substantially in a directionparallel to the longitudinal direction of the end of the tubular piece.

n cutting out a desired opening in the wall portion a pitch is obtainedfor screwing in the helically grooved tube to be connected. I

The above objects are met by providing a device for engagement with acylindrical member having exterior helical grooves, the devicecomprising a tubular connector having at least one tubular end portionhaving a tubular peripheral wall defining an opening means therein, theend portion also having deformable end wall means fixedly secured to thetubular peripheral wall adjacent one axial end thereof and at leastpartially closing the opening means. The end wall includes a firstsubstantially planar wall portion extending across a first portion ofthe opening means at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe tubular end portion, and also includes a second substantially planarwall portion extending across a necting piece according to the inventionin which the opening is provided;

FIG. 1B is a side elevation of a tubular connecting piece according toFIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a three-way tubular connecting piece with an end wall portioncomprising two planes making an angle with respect to one another;

FIG. 2B is a side elevation of a tubular connecting piece according'toFIG. 2A.

Represented in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a three-way tubular connecting piece 1comprising three tube portions 2, 3 and 4. The end 5 of the tube portion4 is closed by a planar end wall portion 6 which extends at an acuteangle with respect to the longitudinal axis 7 of this tube portion 4.

By cutting out an opening 8 in this end wall portion 6, the edge 9constitutes the desired thread of a screw for permitting a helicallygrooved tube to be screwed into the opening.

In the same way the ends 10 and 11 of the tube portions 2 and 3 areprovided with end wall portions (not shown) similar to the end wallportion 6.

Another embodiment consisting of a three-way tubular connecting piece 1with tube portions 2, 3 and 4 is represented in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The end5 of this tube portion 4 is now closed by two planes l2 and 13 whicheach cover about half the section of this tube portion, each of theplanes making an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis 7 ofthe tube portion 4. These angles a and B are preferably equal.

The planes '12 and 13 are interconnected by connecting planes I4 and 15extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube portion 4. Portionsare cut out from the faces 12 and 13 while forming an opening bounded bythe edges 17, 18, 19 and 20.

Into the thread formed in this way a tube with a double thread can beeasily screwed.

The tubular connecting pieces 1 may consist of any suitable materialsuch as metals but preferably of plastic, like thermoplastics, forexample, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride or reinforced thermocurableresin.

Having thus described the invention and manner of its operation what Iclaim as my invention is:

1. In a device for engagement with a cylindrical member having exteriorhelical grooves, a tubular connector having at least one tubular endportion having a tubular peripheral wall defining an opening meanstherein, said end portion also having deformable end wall means fixedlysecured to said tubular peripheral wall adjacent one axial end thereofand at least partially closing said opening means, said end wallincluding a second portion of the opening means at an acute angle tosaid longitudinal axis and to the first wall portion. The end wall meanshas an opening formed therein to receive the exteriorly grooved part ofthe cylindrical member, the angular relationship between the first andsecond wall portions being compatable with the pitch of the helicalgroove and the thickness of the wall portions being less than the pitchof the helical groove to permit the connector and the cylindrical memberto be threadably connected.

The invention will now be clarified with reference to the drawing inwhich an embodiment is clarified.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a three-way tubular confirstsubstantially planar wall portion extending across a first portion ofsaid opening means at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axisof said tubular end portion, and including a second substantially planarwall portion extending across a second portion of said opening means atan acute angle to said longitudinal axis and to said first wall portion,said end wall means having an opening formed therein to receive theexteriorly grooved part of said cylindrical member, the angularrelationship between said first and second wall portions beingcompatible with the pitch of the helical groove and the thickness ofsaid wall portions being less than the pitch of said helical groove.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said planar wall portionsare inclined relative to one another for permitting said connectingpiece to be screwed onto a tube having a plurality of external helicalgrooves thereon.

3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said connecting piece isconstructed of plastic.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said connector includes asecond tubular end portion substantially identical to said first tubularend portion.

1. In a device for engagement with a cylindrical member having exteriorhelical grooves, a tubular connector having at least one tubular endportion having a tubular peripheral wall defining an opening meanstherein, said end portion also having deformable end wall means fixedlysecured to said tubular peripheral wall adjacent one axial end thereofand at least partially closing said opening means, said end wallincluding a first substantially planar wall portion extending across afirst portion of said opening means at an acute angle relative to thelongitudinal axis of said tubular end portion, and including a secondsubstantially planar wall portion extending across a second portion ofsaid opening means at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis and tosaid first wall portion, said end wall means having an opening formedtherein to receive the exteriorly grooved part of said cylindricalmember, the angular relationship between said first and second wallportions being compatible with the pitch of the helical groove and thethickness of said wall portions being less than the pitch of saidhelical groove.
 2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said planarwall portions are inclined relative to one another for permitting saidconnecting piece to be screwed onto a tube having a plurality ofexternal helical grooves thereon.
 3. A connector according to claim 1,wherein said connecting piece is constructed of plastic.
 4. A connectoraccording to claim 1, wherein said connector includes a second tubularend portion substantially identical to said first tubular end portion.